Books of Magic #1

From the SANDMAN UNIVERSE #1, it's the return of Neil Gaiman's magical morality fable in an all-new series written by Kat Howard (Roses and Rot, An Unkindness of Magicians) and drawn by Tom Fowler (DOOM PATROL)! Timothy Hunter may be destined tobecome the most powerful magician in the universe, but he's still a London teenager, and having magical abilities complicates things more than it helps. It's not like he can use magic to pass his exams, stop being bullied or convince his cute friend to date him. And while Tim's trying to live his life, there are cultists who want to kill him, believing his power will eventually corrupt him into becoming a merciless mage. Oh, and those are the good guys. Luckily, his new substitute teacher is more than she appears, and may be able to help Tim discover the mystery behind the Books of Magic...more

A great first issue that I can't wait to delve back into with issue #2. If you're a lover of magic in fiction or magic in real life, you must read Books of Magic. You'll be transported into this strange and dangerous world and won't want to leave. Read Full Review

Kat Howards complete understanding of what makes fans feel such an affinity with this character is perfectly on display. Fowler's art brings the precise tone and look this series has long deserved. With a promising start at their feet, this duo looks to create an amazing coming of age tale for new and old readers alike Read Full Review

Books of Magic is already shaping up to be something awesome. There are so many directions this story could take and I wonder how things will turn out. We see some very important characters early on, a marker that this story is likely to transform into something monumental. The Sandman Universe comics are all interesting; Books of Magic is going to do its own magic in re-establishing this part of the DCU. Read Full Review

Perhaps the most accessible-to-newcomers of the Sandman Universe line... and luckily, a whole lot of fun to boot! Twenty pages in, and I already feel invested in Tim Hunter... and am looking forward to the next chapter. Read Full Review

Tom Fowler does a great job here of making this feel similar to what came before but with his own take on it and I love the way it has a real world and mundane kind of approach with just enough life to tantalize. But I'm also just thrilled that Kat Howard went and made this hugely accessible, touching on the past but also not going overboard in the weirdness just yet or the style of storytelling. I'm very excited by the potential of all of this. Read Full Review

While many recent DC and Marvel arcs and events have been undeniably enjoyable – DC Metal, Secret Empire and Convergence, to name but a few – they always left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth, feeling at times like an excuse to strong-arm readers into buy more comics for the sake of it. And while this isnt necessarily the case all the time, the stories dont always lead on correctly with the rotating crew of artists and writers missing a beat here and there. This is definitely not the case with DC Vertigo, and rather than one large piece of art like most crossovers this has quickly becoming something else entirely. A tapestry of perfect collaboration between expertly chosen artists and writers coming together to provide many different perspectives on the same whole. Read Full Review

Overall, this has a ton of potential. Because of magic, we get a chance to have Tim break into the rest of the DC universe, which is something I hope for. Constantine is already a cross over hero/villain/whatever, so it is hopeful that Tim will join him on an adventure or two. It is a quick read, so slow down and enjoy the art and then, after that pretty great last page, put your order in for issue two. Read Full Review

What stands out about this book compared to the other three books in the line is how quick a read it is. It's a very conventional story, a boy's coming of age as he tries to unlock the mystery around him. Tim Hunter is a compelling lead character, and the story has some great character driven moments. Unlike the other three books, it doesn't feel like there's some grand mystery to be unlocked. Read Full Review

Kat Howard and company succeed in pulling a completely different rabbit out of the hat. A highly promising start, with a seeming reboot or the telling of another version of Tim in a refreshing new light. Read Full Review

Though not perfect, Books of Magic #1 is still a solid, tonally sound new effort from the "Sandman Universe," one that brings back a major player in the Vertigo Comics roster and works hard to make his reintroduction instantly accessible for people who may have never heard of Tim Hunter before now. Read Full Review

It's not that The Books of Magic #1 is a bad comic; it's well-paced, the art is solid -- especially the opening pages that recap the original Gaiman-written series in a medieval tapestry inspired style -- and the dialogue sounds realistic. However, it's painfully unoriginal and takes no risks or chances either in plot or layout. Read Full Review

A big let down, I wish I could forget this book and have a start over with a new first issue of The Books of Magic next month. Timothy Hunter, Neil Gaiman, and the DC Universe deserve better storytelling. Read Full Review

This series cannot expect to last long with visuals like this for new readers or stories that fail to do anything original for veteran fans. This pushes all the buttons one would expect of a secretive teenage magic user in modern day England. It will have to do something completely different from J.K. Rowling's blockbuster to come out of its shadows. It will also have to have much better visuals. I'll go one more issue, Vertigo, but my hopes are not high after this reboot. Read Full Review

As for the artTom Fowler'svisuals are gloomy and foreboding, yet still conveys the mixed up life of the of young fella. As a suggestion is do not read this book while you are tired. While very detailed, the style changes up a little too much for me taste. My biggest dislike is the faces, most of the characters looked 40 or middle aged even though they were supposed to be in High School. Design criticism notwithstanding, I am very excited for the future possibilities of this book. Read Full Review

I found this dull and is it me or do the faces look drawn...weird? Something aboutt the Tim’s face is drawn I didn’t like. Not too much to this issue....especially compared to how dense The Dreaming was.

Disappointing. This seems to be a reboot rather than a continuation of Tim’s journey, which I was hoping for. The story didn’t grab me but may pique the interest of those less familiar with Tim and his story.